Residents Plead Government Intervention On Abeokuta Fuel Scarcity!

The last, obviously has not been heard of fuel scarcity situation, that currently plagued Nigerian states since December 2017, and which ushered Nigerians into a New year. While some states, like Lagos, seems to have resolved the issue, Ogun State, Southwest Nigeria, appears to be battling with the challenge.

Long fuel queue leading to NNPC Filling station, Abeokuta 

Some commercial vehicle drivers in Abeokuta, whom Roving Informant engaged in conversation with, concerning the situation, during a visit to the Ogun state capital on Thursday, January 18th, 2018, had this to say: "This fuel scarcity is frustrating, we are forced to increase transportation fares because of this. Its not that fuel supplies do not come to Abeokuta, as a matter of fact, they do supply fuel here, we all see fully loaded tankers bring in fuel to some filling stations, but they will not sell. Instead, you will see them at nights smuggling the supplies through the small towns...and before you knew it, the fuel meant to serve Abeokuta residents is at the Border..it is just sad that we have to suffer this way because of selfishness and greed. Only very few filling stations actually sells". 

NNPC Filling station, Abeokuta, selling the Pms product on Thursday, January 18th, 2018.

Further Information gathered from some Abeokuta residents, who spoke on anonymity grounds, buttressed the factor stated earlier by the commercial drivers, as a major cause of the lingering fuel scarcity situation. They plead government's intervention,  by investigating these allegations, and provide a lasting solution.

Call-Out To Eti-Osa Local Government Secretariat Igbo-Efon... Please Clean Out Your Toilets!

"When the foundation is destroyed, what can the righteous do?. When toilets in a Secretariat where a Local Government Chairman and Counsellor supposedly resume duty daily is in this state....what becomes of other public facilities under the care of local governments across the state?.

Photos below show the current state (as as Wednesday, January 17, 2018) of Eti-Osa Local Government Secretariat, Igbo-Efon, along Lekki Express Way.

Warning: Images below might nauseate You!

Eti Osa Local Govt. Secretariat toilet Igbo Efon, Lekki

Eti Osa Local Govt. Secretariat toilet Igbo Efon, Lekki

People, staff and visitors of the Secretariat use this toilet daily. Despite a tap and water containers in the premises, the toilets are not flushed after use. 

Stench, filth and total mess..(pardon my use of word) can only best describe the state of this toilet.

Are there no cleaners and supervisors responsible for keeping these toilets clean??

Eti Osa Local Govt. Secretariat toilet Igbo Efon, Lekki

How on earth can we progress as a state and a nation when government workers, people trusted with the responsibility of seeing to the day-to-day management and policy implementation of a state do so in such lackadaisical manner. 

There is need to review our approach to work and responsibility, if we must progress.

This is shameful and needs to be addressed speedily!

Uncompleted Pedestrian-Bridge Projects On Lekki-Epe Express-Way Needs Attention!

The aim of constructing pedestrian bridges on major roads in metropolis, is to ensure safety of pedestrians, curtail accidents and ease traffic flow; other reasons include, but not limited to: complementing landscapes and decoratively linking two distinct areas.

Pedestrian Bridges serve their purpose only when they are completed and safe to use. The rate of uncompleted Foot-Bridge projects along Lekki-Epe express way is disturbing and calls for immediate attention. 

Uncompleted Foot Bridge at Agungui, Lekki-Epe express way

The picture below show school pupils, of Ikota Primary School, crossing the ever busy Lekki - Epe express way with the aid of traffic officials. Pupils from this primary school especially, have been at the receiving end of ghastly accidents on this axis. As a result there have been glamours for a pedestrian bridge at Ikota bus-stop and other major bus-stops along the Lekki-Epe express way. 

Ikota Primary School Pupils crossing the express road with the aid of Traffic officials

Traffic official aiding School Pupils to cross the express road

The last completed pedestrian bridge on the Lekki axis is seen at Jakande bus-stop. That of Agungui, Ikota and Victoria Garden City (VGC) remain uncompleted as seen in pictures below.

Uncompleted Foot Bridge at Agungui, Lekki-Epe express way

Uncompleted Foot-bridge at Ikota, Lekki - Epe express way

Uncompleted Foot-bridge at VGC, Lekki - Epe express way

This an an appeal to the Lagos state government and any other organisation(s) responsible for these uncompleted projects to consider completed them. 

Yellow Card Palava, A Traveller's Narrative!

On one of my road trips to Ghana, west Africa, from Lagos -Nigeria, I decided to do 'the right thing', get my "Vaccination-Card". I was not just going to get a "Yellow-card", but was determined to do the right-thing, which includes: following the due process, in obtaining my card. Actually, it wasn't that important, after all, a lot of road-travelers on the west African frontier cross the borders on a daily basis without the Yellow Card. All you have to do is pay the required five-hundred Naira per trip, as cover for the card, and ensure that your passport gets stamped.

Seme Border

Before the journey, I went to the Lagos State General Hospital, Marina, Lagos Island, from where I was directed to go the nearby "Lagos Island East, L.C.D.A, International Travel Unit, Yellow Card Vaccination", located at Broad street. There I was vaccinated, and given a Yellow-card at the cost of two-thousand, five-hundred Naira.

Two weeks later, I embarked on my voyage. Beaming with pride 'unto good citizen's levels, as in, it's not easy. Seriously, a lot of Nigerian youths are eager to do the right thing, but sometimes the System is not encouraging. That would be a story for another day. Back to my story, I traveled to Ghana, without hassles, my travel document was in tact.- a valid International passport, and my newly obtained Yellow card. 

Lagos Island East, L.C.D.A, International Travel Unit, Yellow Card Vaccination office, Lagos Island

"Kassalla", like Nigerians would say, 'bust' on my return trip. On getting to the Nigerian side of Seme border, after the routine check and cross-check, I was among those asked to alight from the vehicle by the Health officials. 

My offense, I was traveling with a fake Yellow card. Excuse me, a Yellow card I went to the Lagos Island East, L.C.D.A, International Travel Unit, Yellow Card Vaccination office to obtain, was vaccinated, massaged my swollen upper-arm for three days, if not more, simply because I wanted to do the right thing, you call fake.  

Obviously burning with anger and regrets of going through all the trouble to obtain the vaccination-card, I explained how, and where I got the supposed 'fake-card, a supposedly accredited vaccination center, yet another government agency, is telling me the card is fake. The good-news at that juncture, was that I had no money on me, even if they turned me up-side down, one-kobo would not have dropped off me. When their initial threats, of detention until I paid five hundred bucks failed, They let me off, with a warning to get another card when next I wanted to travel. I left, fuming and swearing beneath my breath (lol).

The supposed fake-Yellow-Card was with-held and the officers advised that I obtain an original card from their station at Seme border, since that appears to be the only office that issues authentic vaccination cards, in the whole of Nigeria. Can you beat that!.

A couple of weeks lateer, I made a stop-over at the "Lagos Island East, L.C.D.A, International Travel Unit, Yellow Card Vaccination", Broad street to complain about my the Yellow-card incident at Seme Border. After patiently listening to my complaint, an officer who attended to me, said she was sorry for what I went through at the border, adding that the issue of withdrawing Yellow cards from travelers who obtained their cards from their office, has been in contention for a long time. According to her, they had communicated with health officials at Seme border to desist from harassing travelers on the basis of 'fake Yellow cards' obtained from their office, to no avail. Nevertheless, they would get across to Seme. 

My own is that the Nigerian government should investigate this matter, and provide a lasting solution. Unsuspecting citizens, who had gone to a supposedly recognized International Travel Unit, Yellow Card Vaccination office, got vaccinated, all in a bid to do the 'right thing', are being harassed on a daily basis and extorted, by the Yellow card Health officials at Seme border.  

Yes, extorted! or how else can one explain paying twice for a  Vaccination Card to a supposed government agency, and no one is raising eye-brows. 

There should be a clear directive on where and how to obtain a valid Vaccination Card, to avoid undue harassment, and extortion, all in the name of "Oga/ Madam, this one is fake, we are withdrawing it; you have to get the original one here and now".

Fuel Scarcity Wahala: Which Way Nigeria!

Days after Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria  (PENGASSAN) announced suspension of the strike it embarked on, long queues persists in filling stations across Lagos state and some states across the country.

Lekki-Epe express way

Since the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation’s (NNPC) recent statement that there is no plan to increase the price of petroleum products both at the ex-depot level and pump price ahead of the forthcoming yuletide, what is obtained is far-fetched. 

Gridlock on Lekki -Epe express way around VGC 

Pictures here show long queues stretching from filling stations into highways, stranded commuters walking long distance to the next bus-stop to catch busses at lower rates, or to their destinations. Vehicle owners stuck in gridlock to and fro work. 

Stranded commuters around VGC Traffic light, Lekki Peninsula axis, Lagos

Interestingly, some of the alternative routes that would have made things easier are currently in very bad shapes. 

Ikota - Mobil road alternative route

Community youths rally to control traffic, to ease the situation in their (alternative) territory, but the roads are simply very bad.

Ikota - Mobil road by- pass

Entrance into Ikota/ Mobil rd link alternative route

Entrance into Ikota/ Mobil rd link alternative route

Lekki Peninsula axis by VGC Junction, Lagos

Publications earlier in the week revealed that Oil Marketers blamed the situation on 'yet-to-be-fixed supply shortfalls'. 

Cleaner Lagos Initiative, Your Attention Is Needed At Adisa Coker, Iju!

Attention 'Cleaner Lagos Initiative', and Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps, residents of Adisa Coker street, Obawale, Iju, are complaining, that the refuge generated in the area, has not been cleared for over a month. 

Adisa Coker strt, Obawale, Iju

Do investigate & act accordingly.

Man Jumps To His Death After Being Remanded In Prison For 6 Months Over =N=40,000 Debt; Nigerians Question Her Justice System!

Over an incident that looks like the famous George Orwell’s Animal Farm's "All animals are equal, but some are more equal"; in a system where reported National-Fund Looters, are yet to be officially heard in the Court of Law, nor handed any sentences. Nigerians have reacted and questioned the disposition of the Justice System over a recent event at the State Magistrate Court, Ogba, Lagos – Nigeria.

Remains of the deceased being taken away by officials.
Photo credit: Oluwafemi Esq.

According to News break on Wednesday, December 6th, 2017, a yet to be identified man jumped to his death from the third floor of the Lagos State Magistrate Court, Ogba, Lagos - Nigeria.

Information revealed that the man owed a Forty thousand naira (=N=40,000) a little bit over a $100 debt, and has been remanded in prison for the past six months over the said crime. The deceased, it was gathered jumped to his death after his case was heard in Court.